Our God is Real!

“I tell people all the time not to say that they can’t be delivered from addiction. Our God is real! When I share my testimony, I feel like it’s almost like God is showing off what He can do. My life is not about me anymore. It’s all about God’s glory.” – Pam

On Monday, July 17, women from ministries Watermark partners with throughout DFW gathered for GLOW: A DAY OF BEAUTY. Health and beauty professionals offered haircare, makeup, manicures, and other services to women in need who also are served by Watermark volunteers throughout the year. GLOW is a special reminder of the Lord’s love and care for women who have been touched by addiction, abuse, and poverty. Behind each makeover is a compelling story of the transforming power of God’s grace and love. Meet just a few of the women who were pampered and encouraged at GLOW 2017. To find out how you can show God’s love to the underserved in our community, visit watermark.org/impact.

“I came to know Jesus at the Beloved Women’s Bible Study in which several Watermark women serve. Jesus brought so much encouragement and peace to my life. Even in my pain and setbacks, God is bringing me through.

“I’m in a war with myself, and I’ve been on the streets for about three years now. Things of this word like alcohol and drugs have brought me a great deal of suffering. The only freedom I’ve ever experienced has been through Christ.” – Keisha

“I’m not ashamed to say I’ve fought a battle with crack cocaine. In the worst of my addiction, my kids still went to church, but I would stay outside, duping people out of money and getting high. I was trying to kill myself with drugs and alcohol, but Jesus had a different path for me.

“Just like my pastor at Cornerstone Baptist, the Lord knew the bad and the ugly about me and still loved me. I try not to look back at addiction much now, because I keep my eyes on Jesus to get through each day. Thanks to my friends Susan Coy and Marty Washington, I’ve been around here at GLOW for eight years now. I have a job in home healthcare and love serving the Lord and other people every day. Because of the places I’ve been, I can’t do anything else but thank God for letting me live and allowing me to tell my story. I don’t know where I would be without Jesus!” – Selina

“I came here from the Beloved Women’s Bible Study at Cornerstone Baptist in South Dallas. I love to share my story because the Lord brought me back to life. Alcohol and drugs were keeping me from the life God had for me. I fooled a lot of people for a long time, working a job and being very productive but hiding my addiction. I had three strokes show me the way. I went to Martha’s House at Cornerstone Baptist and completed the program. That’s where I learned how awesome our God is.

“I’ve been clean from drugs for two years now. All I once knew was to go get high. But God told me He had something greater in His Son. Now God has me worshipping next to the pulpit, and ministering to other women. I tell people all the time not to say that they can’t be delivered from addiction. Our God is real! When I share my testimony, it’s almost like God is showing off what He can do. My life is not about me anymore. It’s all about God’s glory.” – Pam

“By the time I was 19, I was a dancer and was giving my body away for drugs and alcohol. I was in and out of homelessness, addiction, and abusive relationships for 13 years. That pattern landed me in jail about ten times. “The last time I was in prison, the Lord did a work on me. I learned about God’s grace, and Jesus healed my heart, not just my addiction. I learned so much about who God was, and I cried out and prayed to Him for healing. I’d been in jail so often that the guards knew me. But my most recent time behind bars, the guards could tell that something had changed in me. One of them said, ‘This is the last time we’ll see you here.’ I knew that was only possible because of the Lord.

“I went to live at Exodus, a ministry for women who are ex-offenders and want to be reunited with their children after they are released from prison. That’s where I learned to be self-sufficient and live for Jesus. Because of this new life in Christ, I know how important I am to the Lord. I get to help other women, and I’m grateful for every part of my story. I read Scripture to my son now, and I can tell him that God’s Word is true. I have hope now, and it’s a beautiful way to live.” – Courtney

Serve in the ministries mentioned here by contacting servesouthdallas@gmail.com (for our partnership with Cornerstone Baptist Church) or exodus@watermark.org (Exodus Ministries). Or find all our great local Ministry Partners at watermark.org/impact!